WITH its franchise player healthy and leading the way, Rain or Shine overwhelmed Meralco, 107-79, in a Petron Saturday Special game of the PBA Philippine Cup at University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao.
Paul Lee flashed his old bounce and swagger as the Elasto Painters dropped two crippling bombs bridging the middle two quarters to clinch a third straight win and rise to 5-2 overall.
The 6-foot Lee, who limped out in two games this conference, scored the bulk of his night-high 20 points when the Painters scooted away behind their vintage run-and-gun style to close out the first half with a 16-4 tear.
The first run had the Painters zooming to a 51-38 lead at the half and when they returned to the floor for the third period, Lee scored nine straight points as Rain or Shine took a 63-53 lead after just 2:30 of the quarter.
Both runs happened after coach Yeng Guiao was tossed out early in the second period for use of profane language.
The loss put the Bolts at a level 3-3 card. It was the second-most lopsided defeat for Meralco in the conference, counting a 41-point blowout to league-leading Alaska two weeks ago.
Tempers flared several times and the game was stopped for close to five minutes when John Ferriols of Meralco decked Raymond Almazan with a forearm to the back of the head.
JR Quiñahan of Rain or Shine also gave tiny point guard Simon Atkins a cheap shot in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, sister squads Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer square off today for second place even as rookie squad KIA Motors tries to boost its playoff chances when it clashes with Barako Bull.
The Gin Kings will be putting a three-game winning streak on the line against the Beermen in the 5:15 p.m. contest, with a win keeping league-leading Alaska within reach.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 107—Lee 20, Chan 16, Jericho Cruz 15, Almazan 14, Belga 11, Tang 10, Teng 8, Uyloan 3, Ibañes 3, Quiñahan 3, Norwood 2, Jervy Cruz 2.
MERALCO 79—Macapagal 16, Dillinger 12, Caram 11, Hodge 9, Hugnatan 7, Anthony 6, Ildefonso 6, Guevarra 4, David 4, Atkins 2, Ferriols 2, Cortes 0, Buenafe 0.
Quarters: 27-19, 51-38, 87-56, 107-79